In 1961, the world watched as two iconic couples met for the first time at Buckingham Palace: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and former U.S. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy. Fans of royal history have long wondered: were Elizabeth and Jackie friends? Well, the answer is not as straightforward as you might think. Let’s dive into the fascinating backstory of this legendary encounter.

The Meeting of Two Remarkable Women

Flash back nearly six decades ago, and we find John and Jackie Kennedy embarking on a transatlantic trip to meet the British monarch and her husband. This was no ordinary meeting—it was an event steeped in history, glamour, and just a touch of drama. In fact, the drama surrounding this occasion was so intriguing that it was even dramatized in Season 2 of Netflix’s hit series, "The Crown." The source of the tension? The guest list.

At traditional state dinners, divorced individuals were typically not invited. However, since this gathering wasn’t officially categorized as a state dinner, Queen Elizabeth had some leeway. Jackie Kennedy’s sister, Lee Radziwill, and her husband, Stanislas Radziwill, were technically not supposed to attend due to their marital histories—Lee was on her second marriage, and Stanislas was on his third. But Elizabeth, ever the diplomat, found a way to make it happen.

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The Diplomatic Dance

Now, here’s where things get interesting. While Elizabeth allowed Lee and Stanislas to attend, she subtly retaliated in a way that Jackie Kennedy later joked about in her biography, "America’s Queen." Elizabeth reportedly left out her sister, Princess Margaret, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark—two individuals Jackie had hoped would be present. As Jackie quipped in the book, “The Queen had her revenge… No Margaret, no Marina, no one except every Commonwealth minister of agriculture they could find.”

Despite these behind-the-scenes maneuvers, the evening itself was a resounding success. Angier Biddle Duke, a White House aide, recalled in a 1964 interview, “It was a delightful evening… I think everybody enjoyed it very much.” He added, “Very pleasant, very charming, and very attractive!”

Tragically, Elizabeth and JFK never had the chance to meet again, as his assassination came just two years later. However, JFK penned a heartfelt thank-you note to the Queen after his Buckingham Palace visit. In it, he wrote, “May I also at the same time say how grateful my wife and I are for the cordial hospitality offered to us by your Majesty and Prince Phillip during our visit to London last Monday. We shall always cherish the memory of that delightful evening.”

Jackie and Elizabeth did cross paths again in 1965, this time at the dedication of JFK’s memorial at Runnymede in England. Photographs from the event show the two women standing side by side, offering mutual support during a poignant moment. While it’s unclear if they maintained a close friendship over the years, one can’t help but hope that these two remarkable women shared a special bond.